GRANTS, N.M. – Founded in 1996 by people who saw the need to help victims of domestic violence, Roberta’s Place has housed over 3,779 women and children and helped over 100 victims a year through its 24-hour crisis call line, 505-2877724. The organization has helped 300 people a year.
Victims can stay up to 90 days in the shelter which has grown from a 12 bed, two bedroom facility to a 24 bed, seven bedroom facility, complete with a kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, and program areas, all handicap accessible.
“Everyone has a right to live free from the fear of abuse and assault. It is one's right to live in peace.”
– Roberta’s Place website
Being a non-profit organization, they have to be creative. Federal and State Grants are hard to get and can only be used for things deemed necessary. So they opened up the Roberta’s Place thrift store, however, they wanted to be able to give the victims more than just the essentials.
They then came up with the idea known today as The Festival of Wreaths.
Created 23 years ago, the Festival of Wreaths is to provide victims and their children with things federal and state grants do not allow them to get with that money.
The money they earn from this event lets them buy presents, throw a Christmas party, and purchase birth certificates or IDs for victims and their children.
For many years the festival had taken place in the Senior Center with over 150 people showing up for dinner and over 100 businesses donating wreaths, money, and prizes.
With the increase in participants, the festival has moved to the Knights of Columbus.
This year there were approximately 170 tickets sold, 102 wreaths donated for the event, several paintings were donated, and approximately 1,500 raffle tickets bought. Everyone received a ticket at the door for a chance to win a door prize.
This event was sponsored by Homestake Mine, which also provided a money donation.
Cibola General Hospital donated four wreaths and Continental Divide donated eleven wreaths. These two donors are big sponsors of Roberta’s Place.
Rosie’s Cafe catered for the event, serving green chili chicken and green chili cheese enchiladas, beans, and rice.
During the festival, there was a live painting by Erin Vega. The artwork, which was donated to Roberta’s Place and will be hung in the shelter, was titled “You’re Love. You’re Worthy.”
“Victims have the right and the capacity to make their own decisions. We do not make decisions for people: we empower and support them in their decisions!”
- Website of Roberta’s Place